People living in east and west Suffolk are being urged to have their say about local mental health services as part of a unique engagement opportunity.

The NHS Ipswich & East Suffolk and NHS West Suffolk clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) want to transform the way mental health provision is delivered across the county.

In order to do that, they first need to find out how effective the people who deliver and receive the current services think they are.

Commissioners want to hear from people who currently use or have previously used mental health services, those who care for them and the staff who deliver those services.

All three groups are being asked to input their feedback via three surveys that ‘go live’ from this morning (Monday 2nd July).

The surveys are part of a much larger engagement exercise that aims to help create a new model for east and west Suffolk that will bring mental and physical health services much closer together.

In a break from usual practice, the CCGs have commissioned four local voluntary sector organisations to engage with local people under the banner “The future of mental health – a very different conversation”.

Suffolk Family Carers, Suffolk User Forum and Suffolk Parent Carer Network will co-ordinate a whole host of mental health workshops and events to gather feedback on the current services.

Healthwatch Suffolk will then gather and analyse the feedback before preparing a report making a case for change for the CCGs’ governing body meetings in November.

Dr John Hague, Mental Health Lead for the NHS Ipswich & East Suffolk CCG, said: “In the past we’ve asked people to share their views on individual services, but this is very different.

“Now, for the first time, we want people to help shape the mental health and emotional wellbeing support system as a whole.

“This is their chance to input into and influence the way mental health services are delivered in the community, in GP practices, hospitals, care homes and in specialist settings.

“We are committed to listening to what they have to say – this is a unique opportunity to let us know what they think.”

Dr Roz Tandy, Mental Health Lead for NHS West Suffolk CCG, said: “We want people’s views on mental health and emotional wellbeing in all their variations.

“We need the people who use our mental health services, those who care for them and those who work in them to respond to these surveys.

“We want to know what they feel is currently being done well, what needs to be done a lot better and what we can do to integrate mental and physical health services much more effectively.

“Our aim is to create a new model of mental health service provision that is safe, sound, supportive and cost effective.”

To respond to one of the surveys please use one of the links below:

People who use, or have previously used mental health services, should respond HERE

Carers of people who use, or have previously used mental health services, should respond HERE

Professionals who work in mental health services or support people with mental health needs should respond HERE